6 ms·

Be honest, your wallet is $499 lighter

31 points by techsaucebaby 17y ago

g0atbutt 17y ago
The iPad doesn't really feel like it's developed for me as a tech savvy person (no multitasking, no side-loading, etc.), but I think that's the point. However, the developer side of me is pumped to be able to leverage the unique hardware and create an experience that would have been impossible otherwise.
- tptacek 17y ago
  Would a portable device geared towards the tech-savvy really move the dials for you? I'm, uh, pretty tech savvy, and the prospect of more connector ports and a more powerful text editor doesn't open my wallet. Etude does.
  - jrockway 17y ago
    Etude does. Really? Etude is a cool app, and is certainly nice looking, but it's nothing new; I remember doing the exact same thing (even "professionally engraved" notation, via lilypond) 6 years ago on my Linux box. The difference is that on your real computer, you can actually connect your MIDI keyboard, and you can see two entire pages of music at once. And you already have it, so it's free. So while nice, I don't think the iPad or iPhone is the best device for this application. The iPad is certainly nice for reading HN while waiting for the train, I would imagine.
    - bricestacey 17y ago
      I wouldn't go so far as to say it's only good for browsing the web. The ease of use of different devices brings about incredible behavioral changes that can't simply be disregarded. I have the luxury of testing a lot of mobile devices lately. I have a macbook pro, iPhone, Kindle DX, Nook, Sony Reader, and ASUS EEE 1005H. I never use the netbook because my 13" MBP is almost just as small and a million times better. The readers are neat, but I don't bother unless I'm reading a novel. They are essentially like books and their value cannot really be maximized unless you're the type of person who reads at any available moment (and I don't live a lifestyle that provides me with such moments). There is this huge middle ground where my MBP is a bit too clunky and my iPhone a bit too small. The iPad fills that gap perfectly. I'm the type of person though that prefers to read my email at work standing up and on my iPhone rather than on my desktop. And I suspect as more comfortable devices come to market (like the iPad), these sort of behavioral changes will become more apparent.
      - jrockway 17y ago
        Interesting. I travel a lot, and try to avoid taking too much with me. The Kindle + netbook is a good combination for me. I also take my happy hacking keyboard. (As for laptops, I think they are a waste of money. A quad-core desktop + netbook is cheaper than a decent dual-core laptop. And if you lose the netbook, it's no big deal. $300 and you have a brand new one.) The problem with the iPad and devices like it is that most of my activities in front of a computer involve typing; writing or programming. Just sitting and reading content is nice, but that's what the Kindle is for. And if I need to type, I need a real computer. So the iPad is the form factor that I would like to carry around, but it's worse than a Kindle for reading and worse than a netbook for computing. I also have a portable music/movie player, and a phone. Way too many devices, and yet they are all good at one thing and all suck at everything else. Sigh. Edit: after re-reading this comment, I've realized that I've failed at traveling light. netbook, kindle, keyboard, phone, dc-dc-converter, archos, headphones. I wish I could combine all these devices into one :(
        bricestacey 17y ago
        I think the argument over losing them is moot. At my library, we're looking into loaning netbooks because we can buy 3 netbooks for the price of a single laptop (and then double the loan period to 8 hours and let them leave the building), but how many people actually lose them? I think it's a justification for being cheap. That is reasonable for libraries loaning out tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, but appalling to me for any developer. Or perhaps I'm just out of touch? The iPad, on the other hand, is cheap. It's portable. It covers all the bases (music, email, internet, photos, and the app store). When I was talking with my mechanic, his exact words were, "so you wouldn't need a computer anymore." Exactly. Suddenly, anyone, including you, can experience the best of mobile technology (and arguably consumer technology) for only $499. And then splurge on a decent laptop like a Macbook for "real work". If you actually need any better, you should be relatively rich, so buy a MBP. Heck, keep using your Kindle too. a laptop, Kindle, and iPad is still pretty light.
        jrockway 17y ago
- tzs 17y ago
  The iPad feels it was developed just for me as a tech savvy person. I have online access to a large number of books (Safari Library subscription) and a large number of journal articles and conference proceedings (ACM Digital Library subscription). I currently only use these resources for short references. I rarely sit down and read something all the way through, because I just don't like reading sitting at my computer. When my iPad arrives, there will shortly after be a big boost in my productivity, as I will be able to comfortably read the above materials, and much more, on my couch or in bed. (I said "comfortably", which rules out laptops and netbooks). If all I ever use it for is accessing Safari Library, the ACM Digital Library, and technical documentation on the web, it will be well worth the cost. But I expect it to end up useful for more as application developers come up to speed. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Omni Group comes up, with for instance. With Omni Outliner and Omni Focus on it, the iPad could become the organizational center of my life. My prediction is that the app market for the iPad is going to be reminiscent of the app market for the iPhone--full of creative apps that do amazing things that most of us would not have come anywhere close to predicting.
  - kalid 17y ago
    Exactly. I got a kindle not for its intrinsic merits, but because of the behavior change. $200 is a very cheap way for me to read more books. Anecdotally, I'm reading about 3x as many books; I've cut down on my random surfing time and instead reach for more substantive stuff. That's worth a lot more than $200 to me, and if the iPad encourages me to read even better stuff, all the better.
    - glhaynes 17y ago
      (I have no ebook reader besides my laptop and iPhone.) It'll be interesting to see whether similar iPad users get a similar boost (Anecdotal-3x™), since [good] web/Twitter/Facebook/email are each a Home button and a tap away on it, unlike Kindle. I sure hope so, as one of my main hopes for the iPad is that I'll read more "Real Books" once I have one, but my compulsion to check what's happened in the last 5 minutes makes me think twice. Hey, if I get Anecdotal-2x™, I'll be pretty damn happy and more productive.
- jsz0 17y ago
  Even tech savvy people sometimes want to step away from the computer and just read a book or play a game without too much complexity or required hoop jumping to get there.
  - plinkplonk 17y ago
    good point. but that is an argument for a tablet, not necessarily the IPad. I suspect the launch of the IPad will get a lot of manufactures to focus on tablets of various form factors and as soon as I can get one i can put Linux on, with plenty of ports, at an affordable price, I'll buy one. (I'll never pay any money to Apple or develop on their ecosystem. They act too sucm bag-gy for my liking - just a personal preference)
pguerin 17y ago
Yep, that's why I am buying an Exo PC Slate! http://www.exopc.com/en/exopc-slate.php http://www.exopc.com/en/exopc-slate.php It works on Windows 7 with 3 USB ports. It's the same price as the ipad, but it's more geared as an netbook killer than a bigger iPod touch. They waited untile the iPad launch to commercialize the device. I think they already are using the device in some coffee shops in Rimouski, Québec.
- deleted 17y ago
  [deleted]
- g0atbutt 17y ago
  While the hardware is incredibly important, the software is what's going to shoot this form factor to the top. I'm sure there will be many imitators that get close to the form factor with lackluster software that brings the overall UX down. On a hardware note, I bet Apple is extremely happy not to have to support x86 legacy cruft.
  - jacquesm 17y ago
    I wonder how long it will take before someone manages to slap linux on it. X seems to be pretty dependent on its pointer though, there would be quite a bit of work in there to make a platform that you can develop applications for.
- sjs 17y ago
  You say it runs Windows 7 like that's a good thing. (I'm no Windows fan, but if it ran a regular desktop Linux distro I would feel the same way) The UI and methods of interaction are what make the iPad different from almost every other tablet released to date. Without an OS tailored for it, a tablet is just a watered down notebook.
  - paulgb 17y ago
    I wonder why they decided to go with Windows 7 rather than Android.
dangrover 17y ago
What a cool app. I bet the guy who made that is a really swell fellow. (just kidding) Man, I need to block hacker news so I can finish the damn ipad version already.
jbellis 17y ago
I don't get it. Reading music is the easy part, and it's best learned with a real instrument.
- Groxx 17y ago
  You argue this based on what information? The lack of other means available until recently? And how do you explain how quickly people learn things when taught interactively, like the music games out now do?
freetard 17y ago
I'll be honest, I'm not spending $499 or more on an iPad.
- techsaucebaby 17y ago
  Your name says it all...

31 points by techsaucebaby 17y ago

The iPad doesn't really feel like it's developed for me as a tech savvy person (no multitasking, no side-loading, etc.), but I think that's the point. However, the developer side of me is pumped to be able to leverage the unique hardware and create an experience that would have been impossible otherwise.

tptacek 17y ago
Would a portable device geared towards the tech-savvy really move the dials for you? I'm, uh, pretty tech savvy, and the prospect of more connector ports and a more powerful text editor doesn't open my wallet. Etude does.
- jrockway 17y ago
  Etude does. Really? Etude is a cool app, and is certainly nice looking, but it's nothing new; I remember doing the exact same thing (even "professionally engraved" notation, via lilypond) 6 years ago on my Linux box. The difference is that on your real computer, you can actually connect your MIDI keyboard, and you can see two entire pages of music at once. And you already have it, so it's free. So while nice, I don't think the iPad or iPhone is the best device for this application. The iPad is certainly nice for reading HN while waiting for the train, I would imagine.
  - bricestacey 17y ago
    I wouldn't go so far as to say it's only good for browsing the web. The ease of use of different devices brings about incredible behavioral changes that can't simply be disregarded. I have the luxury of testing a lot of mobile devices lately. I have a macbook pro, iPhone, Kindle DX, Nook, Sony Reader, and ASUS EEE 1005H. I never use the netbook because my 13" MBP is almost just as small and a million times better. The readers are neat, but I don't bother unless I'm reading a novel. They are essentially like books and their value cannot really be maximized unless you're the type of person who reads at any available moment (and I don't live a lifestyle that provides me with such moments). There is this huge middle ground where my MBP is a bit too clunky and my iPhone a bit too small. The iPad fills that gap perfectly. I'm the type of person though that prefers to read my email at work standing up and on my iPhone rather than on my desktop. And I suspect as more comfortable devices come to market (like the iPad), these sort of behavioral changes will become more apparent.
    - jrockway 17y ago
      Interesting. I travel a lot, and try to avoid taking too much with me. The Kindle + netbook is a good combination for me. I also take my happy hacking keyboard. (As for laptops, I think they are a waste of money. A quad-core desktop + netbook is cheaper than a decent dual-core laptop. And if you lose the netbook, it's no big deal. $300 and you have a brand new one.) The problem with the iPad and devices like it is that most of my activities in front of a computer involve typing; writing or programming. Just sitting and reading content is nice, but that's what the Kindle is for. And if I need to type, I need a real computer. So the iPad is the form factor that I would like to carry around, but it's worse than a Kindle for reading and worse than a netbook for computing. I also have a portable music/movie player, and a phone. Way too many devices, and yet they are all good at one thing and all suck at everything else. Sigh. Edit: after re-reading this comment, I've realized that I've failed at traveling light. netbook, kindle, keyboard, phone, dc-dc-converter, archos, headphones. I wish I could combine all these devices into one :(
      - bricestacey 17y ago
        I think the argument over losing them is moot. At my library, we're looking into loaning netbooks because we can buy 3 netbooks for the price of a single laptop (and then double the loan period to 8 hours and let them leave the building), but how many people actually lose them? I think it's a justification for being cheap. That is reasonable for libraries loaning out tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, but appalling to me for any developer. Or perhaps I'm just out of touch? The iPad, on the other hand, is cheap. It's portable. It covers all the bases (music, email, internet, photos, and the app store). When I was talking with my mechanic, his exact words were, "so you wouldn't need a computer anymore." Exactly. Suddenly, anyone, including you, can experience the best of mobile technology (and arguably consumer technology) for only $499. And then splurge on a decent laptop like a Macbook for "real work". If you actually need any better, you should be relatively rich, so buy a MBP. Heck, keep using your Kindle too. a laptop, Kindle, and iPad is still pretty light.
        jrockway 17y ago
tzs 17y ago
The iPad feels it was developed just for me as a tech savvy person. I have online access to a large number of books (Safari Library subscription) and a large number of journal articles and conference proceedings (ACM Digital Library subscription). I currently only use these resources for short references. I rarely sit down and read something all the way through, because I just don't like reading sitting at my computer. When my iPad arrives, there will shortly after be a big boost in my productivity, as I will be able to comfortably read the above materials, and much more, on my couch or in bed. (I said "comfortably", which rules out laptops and netbooks). If all I ever use it for is accessing Safari Library, the ACM Digital Library, and technical documentation on the web, it will be well worth the cost. But I expect it to end up useful for more as application developers come up to speed. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Omni Group comes up, with for instance. With Omni Outliner and Omni Focus on it, the iPad could become the organizational center of my life. My prediction is that the app market for the iPad is going to be reminiscent of the app market for the iPhone--full of creative apps that do amazing things that most of us would not have come anywhere close to predicting.
- kalid 17y ago
  Exactly. I got a kindle not for its intrinsic merits, but because of the behavior change. $200 is a very cheap way for me to read more books. Anecdotally, I'm reading about 3x as many books; I've cut down on my random surfing time and instead reach for more substantive stuff. That's worth a lot more than $200 to me, and if the iPad encourages me to read even better stuff, all the better.
  - glhaynes 17y ago
    (I have no ebook reader besides my laptop and iPhone.) It'll be interesting to see whether similar iPad users get a similar boost (Anecdotal-3x™), since [good] web/Twitter/Facebook/email are each a Home button and a tap away on it, unlike Kindle. I sure hope so, as one of my main hopes for the iPad is that I'll read more "Real Books" once I have one, but my compulsion to check what's happened in the last 5 minutes makes me think twice. Hey, if I get Anecdotal-2x™, I'll be pretty damn happy and more productive.
jsz0 17y ago
Even tech savvy people sometimes want to step away from the computer and just read a book or play a game without too much complexity or required hoop jumping to get there.
- plinkplonk 17y ago
  good point. but that is an argument for a tablet, not necessarily the IPad. I suspect the launch of the IPad will get a lot of manufactures to focus on tablets of various form factors and as soon as I can get one i can put Linux on, with plenty of ports, at an affordable price, I'll buy one. (I'll never pay any money to Apple or develop on their ecosystem. They act too sucm bag-gy for my liking - just a personal preference)

pguerin 17y ago

Yep, that's why I am buying an Exo PC Slate! http://www.exopc.com/en/exopc-slate.php http://www.exopc.com/en/exopc-slate.php It works on Windows 7 with 3 USB ports. It's the same price as the ipad, but it's more geared as an netbook killer than a bigger iPod touch. They waited untile the iPad launch to commercialize the device. I think they already are using the device in some coffee shops in Rimouski, Québec.

deleted 17y ago
[deleted]
g0atbutt 17y ago
While the hardware is incredibly important, the software is what's going to shoot this form factor to the top. I'm sure there will be many imitators that get close to the form factor with lackluster software that brings the overall UX down. On a hardware note, I bet Apple is extremely happy not to have to support x86 legacy cruft.
- jacquesm 17y ago
  I wonder how long it will take before someone manages to slap linux on it. X seems to be pretty dependent on its pointer though, there would be quite a bit of work in there to make a platform that you can develop applications for.
sjs 17y ago
You say it runs Windows 7 like that's a good thing. (I'm no Windows fan, but if it ran a regular desktop Linux distro I would feel the same way) The UI and methods of interaction are what make the iPad different from almost every other tablet released to date. Without an OS tailored for it, a tablet is just a watered down notebook.
- paulgb 17y ago
  I wonder why they decided to go with Windows 7 rather than Android.

dangrover 17y ago

What a cool app. I bet the guy who made that is a really swell fellow. (just kidding) Man, I need to block hacker news so I can finish the damn ipad version already.

jbellis 17y ago

I don't get it. Reading music is the easy part, and it's best learned with a real instrument.

Groxx 17y ago
You argue this based on what information? The lack of other means available until recently? And how do you explain how quickly people learn things when taught interactively, like the music games out now do?

freetard 17y ago

I'll be honest, I'm not spending $499 or more on an iPad.

techsaucebaby 17y ago
Your name says it all...